Wind River Newsroom

Wind River Introduces Tornado for Home Gateways

New Solution Provides Versatile Platform for Next Generation Broadband Access Equipment for Home and Small Office

ALAMEDA, Calif., January 29, 2001 - Wind River Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:WIND), a leading provider of software and services for connected smart devices in the Internet age, today announced Tornado® for Home Gateways, an integrated software platform and development environment for home and small office gateway equipment. A home gateway can be anything from a simple DSL or cable modem to an Internet access-sharing device with home networking capabilities. Tornado for Home Gateways expands on the capabilities offered by Wind River's marketshare-leading VxWorks® real-time operating system, which powers many of today's DSL and cable modems. The solution package integrates advanced networking, management and drivers and enables the rapid creation of a next generation of broadband access equipment.

The worldwide home networking equipment and residential gateway market is expected to grow from around $600 million in 2000 to over $8.8 billion by 2003 according to recent research by Cahners In-Stat Group. The increasing availability of broadband Internet access, coupled with the trend toward multiple networked devices in the home, is driving the development of more sophisticated gateway devices. Service providers and users alike are demanding increasing functionality, including remote manageability, enhanced security, and multimedia capabilities.

"Today's DSL and cable modems are essentially first-generation home gateways. Their evolution is driven by the multiplicity of devices in the home that also need to be networked," said Dave Fraser, vice president and general manager of Wind River's Networks business unit. "These next generation devices will incorporate broadband through DSL and cable but will also act as a hub to connect every connected smart device in the home."

Fraser added that "this exploding demand for home gateway devices presents a tremendous opportunity for device manufacturers. However, there are two factors creating pressure for them as well. One is time to market and the other is the convergence of multiple technologies into a single device. Tornado for Home Gateways gives our customers a tremendous foundation that accelerates development and allows them to focus on innovation."

Tornado for Home Gateways is part of Wind River's strategy to provide customers with vertically tailored solutions. Following releases will add broadband access, advanced routing and bridging capabilities, and support for emerging wireless home networking technologies like Bluetooth and 802.11b. The platform can be enhanced with plug-in additions, including security and virtual private network (VPN) capabilities, from Wind River's WindNet™ product line and value-added software and hardware from over 500 members of the WindLink™ Partner Program. Support for wireless networking with Bluetooth technology is available through Wind River's Blue Thunder™ technology.

"Developers of DSL and home gateway devices are always looking for integrated hardware and software platforms to give them a fast start," said Keith Cheney, general manager of Motorola's Networking and Communication Systems Division. "In combination with Motorola's Smart Networks advanced communications processors, Wind River's networking platforms give our customers what they need to win in this market."

"Tornado for Home Gateways is an ideal software platform for developing solutions for our communications customers," said Phil Bourekas, vice president of IDT's Internetworking Products. "Wind River's experience in embedded networking helps us get the most from our new integrated processors."

About Wind RiverWind River is a worldwide leader in embedded software. Wind River provides software development tools, real-time operating systems, and advanced connectivity for use in products throughout the Internet, telecommunications and data communications, digital imaging, digital consumer electronics, networking, medical, computer peripherals, automotive, industrial automation and control, and aerospace/defense markets. Wind River is how smart things think. Founded in 1983, Wind River is headquartered in Alameda, California, with operations in sixteen countries worldwide.

Wind River Systems, the Wind River Systems logo, Tornado and VxWorks are registered trademarks and WindLink is a trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or organizations.